Volunteer Center
Stevens Therapy Pups
Four-legged Volunteer Program Expanded at Stevens Hospital
The Stevens Therapy Pups (STP) program began at Stevens Hospital in early 2008 and recently expanded to include 10 teams of volunteer handlers and their Pet Partners®. Presently, the teams visit patients on surgery floors, but they can be stopped for a visit any time you see them in the halls. While their primary purpose is to see hospital patients, they often visit patients’ family and friends too.
“The hope is to grow this program to a total of 21 teams,” says Christi Dudzik, director of the STP program. “This would allow Stevens to have a visiting team seven days a week in the morning, afternoon and early evening. I would also like to expand the program to include other departments and floors of the hospital.”
In order to give back to the hospital and the foundation, the Stevens Therapy Pups have created a one of a kind paw painting to be auctioned off at the Stevens Hospital Foundation's Do Good Classic.
Becoming an STP Animal Therapy Team
All animal therapy teams at Stevens Hospital undergo a therapy dog training course and are required to pass an in-depth evaluation by a recognized therapy animal organization. The preparation classes typically cover the following topics:
Working with Your Animal
- Identifying Stress
- Learning commands for use in the therapy setting
- Practicing around healthcare equipment
As a Therapy Animal Hander
- Working with patients
- Approaching patients who may not be feeling well or who are not receptive to a dog visit
- Outlining the specific responsibilities of a handler
- Addressing common staff concerns regarding visiting animal programs
- Learning about infection control
If you are interested in becoming a STP therapy team, contact Christi Dudzik, director of the STP program, at 425.640.4340 or cdudzik@stevenshospital.org.
